Community Newsletter April 2012[1]

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Community Newsletter

Town Council Prepares to Revi

As the 2012 Fiscal Year winds down, the To

to review the budget for the Town of Fi

budget consists of two major components

and Water and Sewer Fund. The General Ffor daily operations, staff salaries, Town

cleaning and grounds maintenance), st

projects such as sidewalks repairs and

general items. The Water and Sewer Fu

operations of the water and sewer systems

repairs and upgrades.

The Finance Committee (appointed by the

meeting in early May to start work on the

Committee reviews both budgets in detai

revenues and costs, and then makes budg

to the Town Council. The Committee

recommended budget to the Town Councilmeeting. At that point, once the Council rev

Council will have a public hearing on the b

2012.

Fincastle Town Manager David Tickner see

being much simpler this year than last year

dealing with water and sewer operations

paying for themselves. At budget time, we

developing a new water and sewer rate stru

rate structure is in place. Additionally, staff

any major increases in expenditures in the b

A copy of the proposed budget, when rea

will be available at the Fincastle Town Hall

Square, and online at http://www.townoffin

Planning Commission, Virginia

work on Visual Preference Sur

The Planning Commission rolled up its slee

on its next project in April. Under the Dire

Professor Diane Zahm, a group of student

Preference Survey at the Planning Commissi

1

w Budget

wn Council prepares

ncastle. The Towns

- the General Fund

und monies are usedmaintenance (street

reet lights, special

pgrades, and other

nd is used for the

, including necessary

own Council) will be

budget. The Finance

il, anticipates future

et recommendations

hopes to have a

by its May 15, 2012iews the budget, the

udget at its June 19,

the budget process

. Last year we were

that were again not

were in the midst of

cture. This year, that

ill not be proposing

udget

y for public review,

, located at 25 Bank

castle.org/.

Tech Students

ey

es and started work

tion of Virginia Tech

conducted a Visual

ons April 3rd

meeting. The Commission

Library Meeting Room, and i

and students, three Town Co

attended.

Virginia Tech student Lid

Preference Survey to the Co

The students conducted a Vi

showed a series of 100 ima

seconds, and participants we

on how they felt about th

structures, businesses, stre

features of buildings. The r

liked) to 3 (most liked). Th

general feeling of what kin

appealing to Fincastle. A b

standards based on the

development and redevelopto the existing structures and

At a follow-up Commission

discussed the results of t

Preferences included unique

diversity of styles in both res

walkable streets and wel

Commission will be conducti

to be scheduled) and hope t

the near future.

For a look at what types of

scored low, please see the n

April 2012

eld its meeting at the Fincastle

n addition to the Commission, staff

uncil members and several citizens

Aljabar introduces the Visual

mmission and citizens

isual Preference Survey. The group

es, each one for approximately 5

re asked to rank each image based

e image. Photos were of buildings,

tscapes and various architectural

anking system was from -3 (least

goal of the exercise was to get a

s of (architectural) features were

roader goal is to develop design

e preferences so that future

ent in town will be complimentaryenvironment.

eeting on April 16th

, the students

e survey with the Commission.

and tasteful architecture in homes,

idential and commercial structures,

ll thought-out landscaping. The

ng several additional meetings (yet

develop some design standards in

evelopment scored high and what

xt page.


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These two developments (above and below) scored among

the best (highest) of the photos. These two developments (above and below) scored among

the worst (lowest) of the photos

Town Honors Retiring Attorney

At its April 17, 2012 meeting, the Town Council honored Mr.

Wilburn Dibling Jr., who is retiring at the end of April. Dibling, an

attorney with Gentry Locke Rakes and Moore, has been working

with the Town as its attorney on a variety of legal matters over

the last 8 years. During that time, Mr. Dibling (once the City of

Roanokes legal counsel) brought his considerable experience

with local government to assist the town in a number of issues.

Town Council member Alan Brenner, left, presents a

Resolution of Appreciation to Wilburn Dibling, Jr.

(Town projects on the horizon, from page 2)

During his time representing the Town of Fincastle, Mr. Dibling

has advised three Mayors, the Town Council, Town Manager and

several committees on various matters related to Town

business, which included working with Santillane, Frontier

Developers, Moore Investments, Central Water Company and

Botetourt County on a developers agreement for water and

sewer services and a water system interconnect; helping the

Town in its assumption of the upgraded wastewater treatment

plant, reaching an agreement with the Central Water Company

on a water service area for the Town, amending the TownCharter and receiving approval of such from the State

Legislature; and working with the Town on a boundary

adjustment attempt.

Other Town Projects on the Horizon

Making good use of the help offered by Virginia Tech, the Town

is embarking on a cooperative project with Historic Fincastle,

Inc. Under the guidance of HFI, a group of students is developing

a smart phone/IPad application that will allow visitors to

(continued on top of page 3)


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conduct their own self-guided tours of Fincastle. They will utilize

a website that will host information, photos, and hopefully at

sometime, videos about all of the historic structures throughout

Town. The Historic Fincastle Walking Tour currently has 36

structures in town featured! Visitors can then use this

information to conduct their own tour around town and learnabout its rich history.

As an added bonus, the Town hopes to erect signage with QR

codes throughout the tour area. An example of a QR code is

shown in the photo below. Visitors with smart phones and IPads

can scan the code, and their device will automatically use the

host website to bring up information about the structure they

are currently standing in front of.

QR codes similar to this example will be used to privide visitors

with digital information on sites in town trhough their

smartphones of Ipads

As the Town moves forward with the sidewalk grant

construction project this summer, received approval from the

Virginia Department of Transportation to pay for and erect these

signs as part of the grant. It is anticipated that the first signs will

be constructed along the sidewalk route.

Springwood Park Voted Among Best Parks

in Botetourt View

Readers of the Botetourt View recently voted FincastlesSpringwood Park as the Bronze winner for the best Park in

Botetourt. Located at the corner of Jefferson Street and Back

Street, the picturesque park has a small creek running through it,

picnic area several benches and a gazebo. It is a local favorite for

family and engagement photos, and regularly hosts special

groups and events such as weddings.

Known historically as Big Spring, it was a public watering hole for

many years. It was part of the land granted by King George III to

Israel Christian, who included it in the original boundaires of

Fincastle in 1770.

Town Streets Supervisor Gordon Tallaksen has been maintaining

the park for many years, and always makes sure it is in tip top

shape. Thanks for the help Gordon!

The park is available by reservation for special events and

occasions for a minimal fee of $35. You can reserve the park by

calling 473-2200.

Fincastle Streets Supervisor Gordon Tallaksen poses with

the Best Park award at the entrance to Springwood Park.

Council Hopes to Start Sidewalk Construction

this Summer

Town Council is hopeful to start construction of the new

sidewalks in Town this summer. As of today, the Town has

received approval of $440,000 (Phase 1 and 2) in funding from

the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) for the

project, which involves demolishing existing sidewalks, leveling

the walkways to street level, and installing the new sidewalk and

curb and gutters.

With the assistance of Hill Studios, the Town has submitted bid

documents to VDOT representatives for their review and

approval. Once the approval is received, per State and Federal

requirements, the Town will advertise to solicit bids for the

project. As is the case with programs of this sort, there is a

formal submittal, review and approval process that the Town

must follow.

(Please see Sidewalks, top of page 4)


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Documents

Community Newsletter April 2012[1]